Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-12-15

unanimously, nearly one hundred feet
below.
Farther on. the ilumc spanned q
small valley on n trcstlc, and then
cmpticd into n reservoir, nine hundred
feet below the level of tho lake. Tho
reservoir supplied tho pipe which car
ricd tho water ut IN increased speed
and pressure. TO the monitors, two
miles away and ono thousand feet
lower down.
Mr.. Dayton Baird had had charge
of building the ilume, and rs tho re-
suit of his skill proved satisfactory,
tho company made him III offer TO re-
main in their employ. which he ac-
copied. He had n large force of mon
under his direction; some to manage
the monitors, others to keep the sluiccs
clear, and n full score of men ut the
works where the gold was separated
from the dirt, rcc'ls and gravel. by II
process OH the principle of the miners
cradle, but OH far larger scale.
Several others assisted about the
works in different capacities. One of
these latter, George CARING. had
charge of the ilumc. reservoir and
pipes. and il was his duty to walk
along them 10 the lake and back
again every other day. for the short
ness of the line made daily journey
unnecessary. When any thing was out
of repair. he took u few of the men
with him, aud mcndcd it.
Not very long ago. while visiting
the mining districts of California and
Nevada. tho writer met both Mr.
Baird and Mr.. CARING, and in the
course of conversation, the latter re-
lated an adventure with which he had
met n few weeks before.
1T has always been my care" said
he, $50 examine, particularly. that
part of tho ilume which runs along
the side of the precipicc, rather
venturcsome duty, assure you. In
some places | can not see over ten feet
of it 1T time. where il winds in and
out around the projecting rocks. AT
one place it goes around craS, and
seems to be glued. rather than boltcd
and stayed. to the rock. AT another
place il winds along shelf of rock,
but il always goes down II grade
steep enough To make the water rush
and roar in the open, boN-likc cham
mel.
"On this part of the ilumc | spend
about four hours. Any slight damage
might soon become serious here.
III. for example. an iron brace
looscncd its hold on tho hook, n hum
dred feet or more of the ilumc might
come down, aud that would be quite Il
disastrous accident. rs we should lose
much water. and probably be obliged
to suspend work until it could be re-
paired. And, as tho iron hooks do
loosen, occasionally, it is necessary for
me To examine them all. They are
fastened 10 the rock, each in drilled
hole. and sulphur is run around them.
Then also keep the gate in repair.
as drift-wood and dirt wash in from
the lake. blocking the passage of the
water. and rendering 1t impossible to
close the gate. Ny return journey l
used TO accomplish quickly enough, for
turned the water partially of, leav-
Ing running current halfway up the
sides of the ilumc. and OH this cm-
barkcd in small canoe which one of
the workmcn had made for me.
Once launched in the ilumo my
canoe would make u rapid passage.
darling around the curves and along
the prccipicc. 1t only took about
twenty minutes to make the five miles.
OF course it was much easier than
walking, but, perhaps. it was also
little more dangerous.
"As the ilumc, when only half full.
would not keep the reservoir supplied.
l was compelled, the next time went
up. to turn on the full head. Con-
scGucntly Icould float down only every
other trip.
"The lake seems fed by springs, aud
rs lis natural outlet is damned, no
water was wasted by my operation. 1t
was also necessary TO keep the rescr-
yoir from overlooking in the night.
and have to turn the water partly of
ut times.
If pony were OF any use. OF
course should not have made my pas
sage in that way. but ii is very rough
and rocky in some places, and takes
an expert mountainecr 10 climb
around. | became SO accustomed TO
the ride, that scarcely thought of the
danger.
1T was necessary to lie Hat on my
back in the canoe, on account of the
cross pieces across the tlumr. and look